Uruguay 1

Confederations Cup: Brazil beat Uruguay 2-1 to reach final

Paulinho's late header fired Brazil into the final of the Confederations Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Uruguay.

The scores were level with five minutes remaining with extra-time on the cards, but the Brazil midfielder produced the goods after an all-round average performance from the home side against one of their closest rivals.

Fred opened the scoring three minutes before the break to put Brazil ahead after Diego Forlan had missed a penalty for Uruguay.

Edinson Cavani then equalised early in the second half, thanks in part to some woeful Brazilian defending, before Paulinho sealed a place in the final where they will face either Italy or Spain on Sunday.

Uruguay will be left to rue a missed opportunity from Forlan from the spot.

Chilean referee Enrique Osses awarded a penalty to Uruguay after Brazil defender David Luiz tussled with Diego Lugano in the box.

Forlan stepped up to face Julio Cesar and the goalkeeper dived to his left and tipped the ball around the post.

Brazil's Hulk barged his way through the Uruguay defence just before the half-hour mark, only to fire his shot over the bar. Forlan then tried his luck from range at the other end.

The home side, however, then seized the advantage, with star man Neymar unsurprisingly at the heart of the action.

A long ball allowed the 21-year-old to break into the box, where he took it on his chest and got a shot away which was saved by Fernando Muslera, only for Fred to see home the rebound in what was a welcome breakthrough after a difficult first period.

However, the lead was short-lived as Cavani scored three minutes into the second half for Uruguay after Brazil wasted four chances to clear the ball.

It was a bolt from the blue, especially as Cavani had failed to impose himself in the game, but he snuck in to equalise after Thiago Silva tried to play a square pass to Marcelo, allowing him to tackle the Brazil full-back and scuff a shot past Cesar.

However, it was Brazil who had the final word as Paulinho headed them into the final from Neymar's corner with less than five minutes on the clock.

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